WE ARE SAWIN’ LOGS
by Erwin Bourne—February 21, 2002
Can you imagine me as director of AMA “sawin’ logs?”
If you’re stretching your imagination, trying to get a
mental picture of me on one end of a two-man cross-cut
saw, you’ll have to go way back in history. And true,
I have worn out several chain saws. In my better days
physically way up north in Alaska, I felled timber,
skidded out logs, and erected a log church and a huge
log house. But if you’re thinking about this old man
stretched out in a recliner at the Casa Grande
“sawin’logs,” you got the picture! I’ve still got
ambition ‘cause the other day I worked all day and
most of that night. That’s when I sat in the recliner
and “sawed logs” all morning long. Can’t you see the
pile of sawdust by the big chair in the corner of
Jean’s office?
Today as “director” of AMA, my job is organizing the
work far up and down the Rio Amazon. Years back, I
took a day and night’s trip one way down the Amazon to
the mouth of the Rio Putumayo. There we investigated
a river launch minus the equipment to make it run.
The Brazilian MWM motor and the transmission etc. had
been salvaged from AMA’s double-decked launch which
sank near Benjamin Constánt, Brazil. This present
launch is ideal for carrying the Wood-Mizer saw mill
which AMA purchased in Indianapolis. The launch gives
housing for the crew who are cutting logs into boards
and erecting churches.
This is a cooperative effort. In the recent past,
churches have been, or are being. erected at Erené,
Vella Vista, Dos de Mayo and Yahuma. These are all in
Peru. There are communities eager for church building
to begin: Sinai, Santa Rita de Gallinazo, Prosperidad
and San Antonio. As soon as AMA is furnished with
diesel fuel for the launch, gasoline for the saw mill,
support for the families of the crew and food for the
workers; then money to purchase aluminum roofing,
nails, hardware and paint—we can go to work on these
churches. Everyone must get involved in these
important projects.
So now you understand why we are attempting to cut
down the rain forest. Now I must start “sawin’ logs:”
z-z-z-z-Z-Z-Z-Z-z-z-z! The sawdust is accumulating!
Oh, I forgot about AMA rebuilding the Balsa. We will
first need ten huge balsa logs to float the boathouse.
AMA is in the log-business!
Yours for OUTREACH AMAZON
—Erwin and Jean Bourne